Rocker exercise board and methods of use thereof

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are devices, and methods for creating proportional instability on an exercise board. The disclosed devices and methods use curved rocker plates to define the rate of change for tilting on an exercise board.

BACKGROUND

Exercise boards employing rockers to create instability are useful in increasing workout intensity and improving balance. Exercise routines such as yoga, Pilates, tai chi, body building, physical therapy, and rehabilitation on rocker boards are particularly useful for centering balance and increasing muscle activity. When integrating an exercise rocker board into an exercise routine, a user can perform workouts more efficiently with greater intensity, and with the added benefit of enhanced balance training.

However, current methods and devices using exercise rocker boards suffer serious drawbacks. For example, as a user shifts balance away from the center of the board to the edge, the user's position becomes exponentially more difficult to maintain creating gross bodily over-corrections leading to a cyclic teeter-totter effect, or flattening out at the maximum angle of deflection from the center position where balance is lost entirely. Moreover, current rocker exercise boards require practice to utilize the board properly in a workout. Therefore, what is needed is an exercise rocker board that does not induce gross over-correction to maintain user balance as the user shifts body weight away from the center of gravity of the board.

SUMMARY

Disclosed are devices and methods for exercising on a rocker board that obviate gross body weight shifting resulting in over-correction or flattening out of an exercise board at a maximum angle of deflection during a routine. The disclosed devices and methods reduce the amount of physical force required for users to maintain a position on a rocker board even when the angle of deflection of the board increasingly tilts away from the board's center. Additionally, the described devices and methods provide exercise routines where only enough instability is created during a workout to enhance muscular micro-motions without further requiring gross balance corrections or time-consuming practice in order to use the board properly. The shape of the rocker underneath the board comprises differential arc segments. A first central arc segment allows a greater rate of tilt when the user is centered on the board, and a second-flanking arc segment provides a lower rate of tilt of the board as the user shifts weight away from the center.

When using the rocker board, the proportionally decreasing rate of tilt as the user deviates from the center of the board creates advantages such as increased workout time and increased workout intensity with more centered balance. Additionally, users do not require practice or training to use the board safely. Another advantage is that users can adopt exercise positions that are otherwise impossible to attain on a floor or mat, increasing the range of motions a user may use in their exercise routines. Yet another advantage for embodiments employing rocker assemblies, the central rocker plate may be changed out to provide greater or lesser rates of change in tilt, thereby decreasing center position stability or increasing center position stability at the user's option.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a bottom view of an exemplary elongated rocker board comprising rocker plate assemblies.

FIG. 2 is a top view of an exemplary elongated rocker board.

FIG. 3 is a side view of an exemplary monolithic rocker plate.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an exemplary rocker plate assembly.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a user balanced on an exemplary rocker board.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Presented herein are devices and methods for creating proportional instability during an exercise routine. By users standing, sitting, kneeling, or laying on a rocker board to perform exercise routines, users benefit from micro-motions naturally resulting from the user maintaining balance on a rocker board; but, the disclosed rocker board is more forgiving to users that over-correct to maintain balance. Moreover, even skilled users benefit from being able to maintain balance for a longer time even if the disclosed board is at a high angle of deflection from the plane of the workout surface. The disclosed embodiments are suitable for use on both a soft workout surface such as carpets and mats as well as hard surfaces such as wood or concrete floors.

FIG. 1 presents a simplified bottom view of a non-limiting embodiment of the device comprising an elongated planar rocker board 10 having an upper surface (not shown) on which the user stands, kneels, sits or lays, and a lower surface 20 comprising rocker plates 30 which provide proportional lateral instability via the plano-convex rocker plate assemblies 30 in parallel to the bottom of an elongated board forming a chord section 40 such that the rocker assemblies have a central rocker plate 50 with a high rate of deflection arc segment 60 versus flanking rocker plates 70 having a low rate of deflection arc segment 80. As a safety feature, the flanking rocker plates terminate in perpendicular truncations 90 that prevent the board from pinching fingers and hands underneath the board when the board maximally tilts on a floor or mat. Further providing strength to the rocker board assemblies, bolts with wing nuts 100 are used to compress the central rocker plate 50 in-between the flanking rocker plates 70. Bolts may be secured by any suitable means such as hex nuts, wing nuts and other means of attachment optionally using washers, compression washers, rubber washers and collets, for example.

FIG. 2 presents a simplified top view of a non-limiting embodiment of the device comprising a rocker board 10 having an upper surface 20 on which the user stands, kneels, sits or lays, and a lower surface (not shown) where rocker assemblies 30 are affixed underneath the board. Rocker assemblies may be affixed to the board by any suitable means including welds, glue, screws, bolts, rivets, and other means of secure attachment.

FIG. 3 presents a simplified side view of a non-limiting embodiment of a monolithic rocker plate 200 having two flanking arc segments 210 and a central arc segment 220 providing proportional lateral instability in a single rocker plate when affixed to an exercise board. A plurality of such rocker plates may be attached at substantially parallel positions to each other underneath the exercise board to obviate longitudinal instability in the board.

FIG. 4 presents a simplified side view of a non-limiting embodiment of a rocker plate assembly comprising two plano-convex plates 100 wherein a central rocker plate 120 is fixed between the flanking rocker plates 100 and the central rocker plate comprises a high rate of deflection arc segment 130 with the flanking rocker plates having a lower angle of deflection arc segment 140. For user safety, the flanking rocker plates are truncated perpendicularly 150 so as to prevent users from pinching fingers and hands underneath the board. The central plate's arc segment 120 terminates underneath the board so as not to obstruct the function of the truncations of the flanking arc segments. Additional strength is imparted to the rocker board assemblies by using bolts 160 and hex nuts 170 to compress the central rocker plate 130 in between the flanking rocker plates 100.

FIG. 5 presents a simplified side view of a non-limiting embodiment of a user 300 positioned on the upper surface of the rocker board 310 wherein four plano-convex rocker plate assemblies 320 described in FIG. 4 are affixed perpendicularly to the underside of the board and parallel to each other using screws 330 countersunk into the surface of the board. As the user balances on the board, the board tilts laterally over an angle of deflection 340 of which the rate of change of the angle is defined by the curvature of the two differential arc segments previously described in FIG. 1.

Specifically, where the board is substantially parallel to the exercise surface 350, the rate of change of angle of deflection is high because the central arc segment of the rocker plate is highly curved so that the instability is greater over the center of the board. However, as the user tilts the board further from the plane of the exercise surface, the rate of angle of deflection of the board 340 decreases because the flanking segments contacting the floor are less curved than that of the central arc segment; thus, the board becomes less unstable in tilted positions. The user grasps the board at the edge the board 360 to assist in control and balance.

By providing a board with a central arc segment inducing a greater angle of deflection of the board relative to the angle of deflection of the flanking arc segments, a user can maintain balance even when the board approaches its maximum angle of deflection. In such embodiments, the center arc segment provides a greater rate of angular deflection of the board where the board is substantially parallel to the exercise surface, but a lower rate of deflection where the board tilts and the flanking arc segments contact the exercise surface to decrease the rate of angular deflection. From the user's perspective, the center of gravity of the board is higher and more unstable where the board is balanced substantially parallel to the exercise surface but as the board tilts, the center of gravity is lowered, thus increasing stability for the user even though the board is tilting and the user remains in same position.

In certain embodiments, the plano-convex rocker is monolithic comprising a single plate having a central arc segment and a flanking arc segment such that the central arc segment sweeps a more narrow angle than flanking arc segments. Monolithic plano-convex rockers are useful in reducing weight of the board and in pre-form manufacturing. In yet other embodiments, a monolithic rocker plate is attached to the board by any sufficient means including via screws, welds, glue, hinges, brackets, or any other functional means and combinations thereof.

However, in certain other embodiments the plano-convex rocker comprises an assembly wherein a central plano-convex plate is fixed between two flanking plano-convex plates. As such, a user can swap out central plates to increase or decrease stability near the center of the board allowing the user to configure the device for comfort and desired workout intensity. In these embodiments, a user can replace a central rocker plate with another rocker plate having a more highly curved arc segment to increase instability. Alternatively, a user can replace a central rocker plate with another rocker plate having a more less curved arc segment to decrease instability. In certain embodiments, the central plate is bolted between the flanking plates, but any removable latch or compression fitting configuration affixing the central plate is contemplated. In yet other embodiments, rocker plates are attached to the board by any sufficient means including via screws, welds, glue, hinges, brackets, or any other functional means and combinations thereof.

In order to provide a lateral tilting board, rocker plates are used which comprise an arc segment. Geometrically, an arc segment is defined as a portion of a curve separated from a circle or ellipse with a chord line, or in the case of a hyperbolic or parabolic curve, a curve separated by a secant line. Arc segments are curved. Chord and secant lines are straight. Arc and chord-secant lines join to form a “plano-convex” cross-sectional area of the rocker plate. For purposes of the disclosure, the term “plano-convex” refers to the mechanical properties of a rocker plate. The term “plano-convex” comprises both a simple plano-convex plate having only one arc segment joined to at least one chord-secant line or a complex plano-convex plate having more than one arc segment joined to at least one chord-secant line, for example as in the rocker plate shown in FIG. 3.

The plano-convex rocker plates contact the exercise surface so that the surface creates the geometric equivalent of a tangent line to point of contact on the arc segment of the rocker plate. The instantaneous rate of change in the curve is defined by the slope of the tangent line formed by contact with the exercise surface. While the user initiates the change by tilting the board, the rate of this change is defined by the curve of the rocker plate. Thus, the arc segment on the rocker plates defines the rate of change of the angle of deflection of the board. The board may be deflected as much as perpendicular, i.e., 90°, to the ground, but for most embodiments, the maximum angle of deflection of the board is 45°, 40°, 35°, 30°, 25°, or 20°.

In some embodiments, the curved rocker plate deflects the plane of the rocker board as the point of contact changes between the arc segment and the floor. By changing the curve of a rocker plate to be circular, elliptical, parabolic, or hyperbolic, the angle of deflection of the board changes as the board is tilted. Similarly, a combination of deflection rates can be achieved by using combinations of circular, elliptical, parabolic, or hyperbolic arc segments on the rocker plate or assembly, thereby creating a complex plano-convex rocker plate as defined supra. For example, the center rocker plate may comprise a circular arc function and the flanking rocker plates may comprise an elliptical arc function. Similarly, both the central and the flanking rocker plate arc segments may both comprise an elliptical function wherein the central arc segment has a faster rate of angular deflection as the board begins to tilt but the flanking arc segments have a slower rate of angular deflection as the board tilts further from center. All combinations of curve functions are contemplated as long as the rate of angular deflection of the board is not a constant where the board tilts from parallel to the exercise surface to the angle of maximal deflection. In certain embodiments it is even possible to create a rocker board that is highly stable in the center position, but increasingly unstable as the board tilts, creating especially demanding balance positions as the board deflect from the plane of the exercise surface.

In some other embodiments, the flanking rocker plates are truncated perpendicular to the board and parallel to the edge of the board. Such perpendicular truncations allow a user to hold onto the board without pinching the user's fingers under it, even when the board is at maximum deflection. When a user feels the curved segments with their fingers, users immediately reposition their hands to grab a different portion of the edge of the board so that accidentally titling the board onto the user's fingers is obviated.

The arc segments alone inherently create a center of gravity for the board without a user being on it. However, a user on the board can change positions from sitting to standing for example, thus, raising or lowering the center of gravity. As such, the user can increase or decrease the instability on the board by raising or lowering their body on the board. Indeed, one advantage of the board is that it can be used in both sitting and standing positions with equal user confidence. Moreover, a user can use even high angles of deflection to create new, relatively stable positions and exercises that are not otherwise possible on a flat surface. For example, a user can tilt the board to its maximal deflection but maintain their position by grasping one edge of the board as a for leverage and counter balance as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 5.

In yet other embodiments, the board can be folded in half or thirds for storage and transportation. During use, the board may be draped with a thin mat, a pad, a towel or any other soft surface to increase user comfort. In certain embodiments, a headrest or cushion is place or attached to one end of the longitudinal axis of the board. In certain other embodiments, a soft mat or pad is attached to the upper surface. Hooks and straps attached to the board for handholds or footholds are also contemplated in the embodiments. In yet other embodiments, the upper surface of the board comprises a non-skid surface such as grit, varnish, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, and the like.

The composition of the board and the rockers underneath the board are not limited to any particular materials and include but are not limited to wood, plastic, fiberglass, carbon fiber, metal, and combinations of these for example. In some other embodiments, the board and rockers are pre-formed together in a single mold. In yet other embodiments, the board and the rockers are molded separately and then attached to each other.

In certain embodiments, the exercise surface is soft such that the rocker plate sinks into the surface, as when using it on a mat or a carpet. Soft surfaces are particularly beneficial to users desiring a less vigorous workout as the soft surface creates resistance against the rocker plates as the surface compresses under contact. Conversely, hard surfaces such as wood or concrete can be used to increase workout intensity since the surface does not offer any resistance under compression.

For certain embodiments, the board is useful in yoga, Pilates, tai chi, weight lifting, rehabilitation, physical therapy, cross-fitness, obstacle course training, and martial arts stances and forms, as well as any other exercise benefiting from instability created by using a rocker board. For example, the board is also useful in body building, in rehabilitation of balance, rehabilitation for spinal pain as well as for muscular atrophy, and in recovery from high intensity exercise such as running, marathons, and bicycling. Similarly, the board is useful in training for skiing, surfing, dancing, gymnastics, skating, skateboarding, as well as such sports as soccer, baseball, football, and wrestling among others. In certain embodiments, the board is used for in-place running and jumping exercises as well. For youths, the board is highly entertaining and can be used as an entertainment device alone or incorporated into children's gym activities.

EXAMPLE 1

Four parallel rocker assemblies were attached to the underside of a one inch plywood board using countersunk wood screws. The board was seven feet long and eighteen inches wide with rounded longitudinal ends extending over the terminal rocker plates. The rocker assemblies comprised a central solid wooden plano-convex rocker plate fixed between two flanking solid wood plano-convex rocker plates using two bolts and two wing nuts to compress the assembly together. The central rocker plate was fourteen inches long at the chord, one inch thick, and had a maximum height of four inches. The two flanking rocker plates shared the same dimensions of seventeen and three-quarters inches at the chord, one inch thickness, and had a maximum height of three inches. The difference in maximum height between the central plate and the flanking plates was one inch.

The central plate comprised a convex arc segment having a high rate of angular deflection as the board was initially tilted from parallel to the exercise mat; whereas, the flanking plates comprised symmetrical arc segments having a lower rate of angular deflection as the board was tilted further laterally. The central plate arc segment and flanking plate's segments were both elliptical but comprised differential rates of change of arc as the board tilted.

The flanking plates were truncated perpendicularly to the edge of the board to create a space underneath the board for the user to hold the edge of the board. This feature allowed users to safely grasp the edge of the board even in the fully tilted position without pinching their fingers between the board and the mat. The board was unstable in the lateral plane but not in the longitudinal plane, thereby allowing walking forward to backward on the board without longitudinal board motion.

Users exercising on this board reported a higher level of intensity workout because of the micro-instabilities inherent in attempting maintain balance on the board, even in prone positions which have a low center of gravity, compared to lying prone on an exercise mat, which alone has no instability. As a result, the caloric requirement for using the board exceed that of simply using a floor mat for similar exercises.

For standing positions, even new users reported that they were able to successfully balance on the board using only isotonic muscle control without flailing their arms or legs or engaging in gross shifts of position in order to maintain balance. Isotonic muscle control was particularly important in maintaining yoga positions over time without falling off the board or flattening out the board at its full tilt position.

Indeed, users were able to obtain new, previously undescribed positions in yoga because such positions were not possible on an exercise mat alone. These positions include hybrids of gymnastic stances normally only attainable by using a balance beam or parallel bars. For example, users could perform abdominal crunches or squats (with or without weights such as a kettlebell) in either the longitudinal or lateral position to the board, each with different effects on balance, stretching, and muscle activity. Similarly, it was possible to do asymmetrical push-ups by grasping the edge of the board along the longitudinal axis of the board and extending one arm and retracting the other arm while maintaining body position parallel to the exercise surface. In such a push-up position, users did not need to flatten their hands onto the board thereby reducing wrist strain. Traditional yoga blocks and belts were also used in exercise routines on the board.

For yoga, hybrid positioning for the wheel stance allowed users to grab the edge of the board instead of flattening their hands, thereby reducing wrist strain. Similarly, users maintained the tree stance in at the center of the board, but were also able to obtain a variation of the stance by standing on the lateral flank of the board and allowing it to tilt to maximum deflection. In a half-moon stance, users were able to cross-position at an oblique angle across the board as well as grasp the edge of the board while flattening it out in the tilted position, which is not possible on a flat exercise surface.

The device was used successfully by the elderly, the young, and the overweight as well as trained athletes. Users reported a more thorough workout, increased mental clarity, rapid recovery rate from the workout, and increased body awareness in space or bodily intelligence.

The use of the board was not limited to a single user on the board. For example, two users performed the same routine on the same board, but with each other creating additional lateral instability, increasing workout intensity and communication between users of the board. Similarly, an instructor was able to stand on one end of the board while the user performed routines under the user's instruction further increasing the workout intensity for the user by the trainer's shifting their own body weight to create or mitigate instability on the board for the user.

For some exercises, two boards were used simultaneously. The user would position the lower part of their body on one board and position the upper part of their body on another board allowing the user to create a bi-axial torsion between their lower body and upper body. For group exercises, boards were placed end to end in a circle allowing users to walk onto each other's boards and change their relative position to the instructor.

Other modifications and embodiments of the invention will come to mind in one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented herein. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed. Although specific terms are employed, they are used in generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, and that modifications and embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An exercise rocker board comprising, an elongated, substantially planar board comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein a plurality of plano-convex rockers for contacting an exercise surface are attached perpendicularly to the lower surface of the board and in parallel relative to each other, further wherein the plano-convex rockers comprise at least a central high rate of angle of deflection arc segment and a flanking low rate of angle of deflection arc segment relative to central arc segment.
 2. The exercise rocker board of claim 1, wherein the flanking arc segment terminates with a truncation perpendicular to the board, thereby preventing a user's hand from being pinned underneath the board at a maximum angle of deflection of the board.
 3. The exercise rocker board of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plano-convex rockers is monolithic.
 4. The exercise rocker board of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plano-convex rockers comprises an assembly having a central plano-convex rocker plate fixed in parallel between at least two parallel flanking plano-convex rocker plates, wherein the central plate comprises the high rate of angle of deflection arc segment, and the flanking plate comprises the low rate of angle of deflection arc segment relative to central arc segment.
 5. The exercise rocker board of claim 1, wherein the board folds laterally into halves.
 6. The exercise rocker board of claim 1, wherein the board is stable in a longitudinal plane and unstable in a lateral plane to the exercise surface.
 7. The exercise rocker board of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the board is draped with a pad, a towel, or a mat.
 8. The exercise rocker board of claim 1 wherein the exercise surface is a soft surface selected from the group consisting of a mat, a carpet, and combinations thereof.
 9. The exercise rocker board of claim 1, wherein at least one of the arc segments comprises a function selected from the group consisting of an ellipse, a circle, a parabola, and a hyperbola.
 10. An exercise rocker board, wherein the center of gravity of the board decreases as the board tilts laterally relative to a substantially planar exercise surface.
 11. The exercise rocker board of claim 10, wherein the board comprises an elongated, substantially planar board comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein a plurality of plano-convex rockers for contacting an exercise surface are attached perpendicularly to the lower surface of the board and in parallel relative to each other, further wherein the plano-convex rockers comprise at least a central high rate of angle of deflection arc segment and a flanking low rate of angle of deflection arc segment relative to central arc segment.
 12. The exercise rocker board of claim 11, wherein the flanking arc segment terminates with a truncation perpendicular to the board, thereby preventing a user's hand from being pinned underneath the board at a maximum angle of deflection of the board.
 13. The exercise rocker board of claim 11, wherein at least one of the plano-convex rockers is monolithic.
 14. The exercise rocker board of claim 11, wherein at least one of the plano-convex rockers comprises an assembly having a central plano-convex rocker plate fixed in parallel between at least two parallel flanking plano-convex rocker plates, wherein the central plate comprises the high rate of angle of deflection arc segment, and the flanking plate comprises the low rate of angle of deflection arc segment relative to central arc segment.
 15. A method of exercise comprising, a user standing, kneeling, sitting, or laying on a rocker board wherein the rocker board comprises an elongated, substantially planar board comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein a plurality of plano-convex rockers for contacting the exercise surface are attached perpendicularly to the lower surface of the board and in parallel relative to each other, further wherein the plano-convex rockers comprise at least a central high rate of angle of deflection arc segment and a flanking low rate of angle of deflection arc segment relative to central arc segment.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the flanking arc segment terminates with a truncation perpendicular to the board, thereby preventing a user's hand from being pinned underneath the board at a maximum angle of deflection of the board.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one of the plano-convex rockers is monolithic.
 18. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one of the plano-convex rockers comprises an assembly having a central plano-convex rocker plate fixed in parallel between at least two parallel flanking plano-convex rocker plates, wherein the central plate comprises the high rate of angle of deflection arc segment, and the flanking plate comprises the low rate of angle of deflection arc segment relative to central arc segment.
 19. The method of claim 16, wherein the exercise is selected from the group consisting of yoga, tai chi, Pilates, and physical rehabilitation.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the exercise surface is a mat or carpet. 